UK Minister for International Development, Nick Hurd, has arrived in Sierra Leone on his first visit to the country. His trip will focus on supporting a positive future for Sierra Leone after Ebola, and looking for opportunities to improve basic services for people across the country, as well as create investment and jobs.

During his stay, Minister Hurd will speak at the Energy Revolution: Off-Grid Renewable Energy Launch at the Bintumani Conference Centre. The event has been organised by Sierra Leone's Ministry of Energy and DFID with support from Adam Smith International, SOBA and Power for All.

Alongside President Koroma and Energy Minister Henry Macauley, he will address over 400 other attendees and discuss the UK's Energy Africa campaign. Sierra Leone has already signed up to the movement which aims to light up the African continent quickly without resorting to technology with high-emissions. Sierra Leone is the first country to sign an Energy Africa compact, which aims to unleash the solar energy market and light up Sierra Leone without resorting to technology with high-emissions.

Minister Hurd will use part of his visit to speak with key Sierra Leonean Cabinet Ministers and international organisations on the continued efforts to keep the country Ebola free. In a ceremony to be held in Hastings, he will also formally hand over UK funded preparedness assets to the UN.

The Minister will partake in further visits which focus on human development, and how to improve access to basic services such as health care, education and clean water and sanitation.

His trip signals the UK's commitment to the recovery of Sierra Leone post Ebola, and is aimed at also looking for ways to increase private sector investment, generate jobs for Sierra Leoneans and create a positive future for the country.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of British High Commission Freetown.